Traction element for tractors



. March 18 1924. 1,487,416

- F. B. WHITLOCK TRACTION ELEMENT Fen TRACTORS Filed Oct. 1. 1921 I Fig.2.! A H Fig.5

NVE TOR.

BY 9H? i A TTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 18, W24.

TRAGTION ELEMENT F03 TRACTUHfi.

Application filed October 1, 1921. Serial No. 505,5 4).

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED B. Wnrrnoox, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland Heights, county of Cuya- 6 hoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Traction Elements for Tractors, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to traction elements for tractors, is

more particularly directed to an improved type of shoe or road engaging element for use on tractors and other vehicles having a continuous or belt tread. In such machines one item of considerable cost in the maintenance of the machine is the replacement of the links or tread members which wear out very rapidly. It is only the roadengaging portion of each link which wears, but when this portion is worn, the entire link must be replaced and it is impossibleto construct these links of a material which will have a high resistance to road wear and at the same time be suitable for the general machine operations which are necessary to work up the casting into the finished link.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a link and tread member which shall be so constructed as to permit of the quick and convenient attach ment of the tread member to the link or its removal therefrom for replacement. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my improved link member; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the tread member; Fig. 3 1s a side elevation showing diagrammatically a series of links each rovi ed with one of the improved tre s; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the ink with tread attached thereto; and Fig.

5 is a section on the line 5-5 in Fig. 2.

links 1 sec Referrin now to Fig. 3, there are shown of which is constructed of two lateral plates 2 connected by a transverse bar 3 which extends to the level of the lower edges of the two side plates 2. These links are provided with aligned apertures 4 in one end and aligned apertures 5 in the other for the reception of pins or bolts which connect the various links pivotally together. Each of the side plates 2 of the link is prov1ded with recessed corners 6 which have beveled shoulders 7 thereon and with an aperture 8 in the cross plate 3. The link members may be formed of any suitable material which may be capable of standing the strains to which the link proper is subjected and at the same time be easy to work and to machine.

The tread members consist of a plate 10 which is provided with a downwardly extending curved flange 11 on the rear edge and with a hook 12 which is disposed centrally on the plate and is adapted to engage over the edge of the transverse bar or plate 3 on the link. The lower engaging surface 13 on the hook is disposed at a very slight angle to the plane of the surface 14 which is the surface of the plate proper so that these two surfaces 13 and 14 will be wedged against the cross plate 3 when the tread member is assembled on the link.

The tread member is also provided with two depending lugs 15 each of which has a beveled side 16 and these lugs are adapted to fit snugly into the recessed corners of the side plates of the link with the beveled shoulders 16 of the lugs engaging against the similarlg beveled corners 7 of these recesses. lln t is way a very considerable driving surface is provided between the tread member and the link and consists of the vertical wall 17 of the hook 12 and the two beveled shoulders 16 on the lugs 15. The plate is also rovided with an aperture 18 cast therein, which registers with the aperture 8 in the cross plate on the link when the tread member is assembled therewith and a bolt or rivet 19 may be used in these holes to lock the plate and link together and also to take a part of the driving strain.

The tread member may be made of very hard wear-resisting material, such, for example, as manganese steel, as there is no machining neces The surfaces 13 and 14 need only be ground smooth and do not need no res to be machined. The particular advantage of the present construction is that the tread member may be made separate from the links of the chain and may be readily assembled therewith or removed for replacement when necessary. The replacement of the tread member does not re uire the replacement of the entire link ut onl of the road engaging plate which is relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of a complete link.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by an of the following claims or the :guiva ent of such stated means be employ I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a link member provided with an engagin plate thereon, and a traction shoe provided with spaced engaging surfaces angularly related to each other to form a wedge slot adapted to removably engage over said plate on said link.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a link member provided with an e aging plate thereon, and a traction shoe a apted to be removabl mounted on said link member, said shoe ing provided with a hook adapted to engage over said plate on said link, and said shoe also having wedge shaped shoulders engaging against said link member when said shoe is positioned upon said member.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a link member provided with spaced lateral elements and transverse connecting bar, and a'traction shoe adapted to be removably mounted upon said link member, said shoe being provided with shoulders engaging against said lateral elements and a hook engaging over said transverse connecting bar.

Signed by me, this 27th day ofSeptember, 1921.

FRED B. WHITLOCK. 

